First picture of Kate since surgery released by Kensington Palace: Princess of Wales thanks the public for their support in Mother's Day message as she recovers

Kensington Palace has released the first official photo of the Princess of Wales since her surgery as she thanked the public for their support in a Mother's Day message while she continues to recuperate.

Princess Kate is seen beaming with her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in a picture taken by her husband, Prince William, at their home in Windsor.

'Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day,' the Princess of Wales said, signing off the message with a 'C' for Catherine. 

In the new photo, Kate, 42, is seen sitting down on a chair with her arms around Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five. George, 10, is stood behind her with his arms wrapped around her shoulders in a hug. 

Kate, dressed in denim jeans and a jacket, and her children appear to be roaring with laughter in the photo which was taken by William, 41, this week.

The mother-of-three has stepped back from royal duties since being admitted to The London Clinic for 'planned abdominal surgery' on January 16.

Kensington Palace has released the first picture of Kate since her surgery as the Princess of Wales thanked the public for their support in a Mother's Day message while she continues to recuperate

William has been stepping up royal engagements in Kate's absence. Pictured: Prince William and Princess Kate are seen at a  ceremonial welcome for The President and the First Lady of the Republic of Korea at Horse Guards Parade on November 21 last year.

The Princess of Wales has not been seen since she attended the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham 

The princess' absence from royal engagements since the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham has led to huge speculation on social media - but the positive Mother's Day update has been warmly welcomed by royal fans.

Buckingham Palace also shared a photo of the King with his late mother Queen Elizabeth II to mark Mother's Day. Charles is seen kissing his mother's hand after a polo match in 1985.

'Wishing all Mothers, and those who are missing their Mums today, a peaceful Mothering Sunday,' a message alongside the photo said. 

Kensington Palace confirmed Kate's surgery was successful and on January 29, she returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be reunited with her children almost two weeks after having the surgery.

Last Monday, she was photographed for the first time since the medical procedure after US gossip website TMZ published pictures of her being driven around Windsor with her mother, Carole Middleton.

In the photo, Kate was wearing dark sunglasses and sat in the passenger seat of a black 4x4 Audi. 

The pictures were not published in the UK after Kensington Palace appealed for her to be able to recuperate in private. 

Days later, Carole's brother - and Kate's uncle - Gary Goldsmith revealed on Celebrity Big Brother that her niece was getting the 'best care in the world'.

Love Island winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu asked Goldsmith on Wednesday's episode: 'Where's Kate?'

He replied: 'Because she doesn't want to talk about... The last thing I'm going to do is... there's a kind of code of etiquette. If it's announced, I'll give you an opinion.' 

Kate's 'black sheep' uncle added: 'I spoke to her mum, my sister, she's getting the best care in the world.

'And all the family's done is put the wagons round and look after family first before anything else. They put a statement out and just said 'she's taking some time to recoup and will see you in Easter'.'

After Kate was photographed in paparazzi pictured on Monday, the Ministry of Defence was then forced to delete a claim on its website that the Princess of Wales would be attending the Trooping the Colour. 

Tickets had gone on sale via the army website advertising Kate reviewing a 'practice' parade for the first time on June 8 in her role as honorary colonel of the Irish Guards.

King Charles also shared a touching tribute to his 'darling Mama' on Mother's Day and wrote: 'Wishing all Mothers, and those who are missing their Mums today, a peaceful Mothering Sunday'

Princess Kate attended the service with Prince William and their children George, Charlotte and Louis

Kate left hospital on January 29 and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be reunited with her children almost two weeks after having the surgery. Pictured: Kate and William in September 2022 

Officials have said  that the Princess of Wales (pictured on December 5) continues to do 'well'. Kate plans to return to royal engagements after Easter

It also announced that King Charles, 75, would be reviewing his own official birthday parade on June 15 at Horse Guards.

But within minutes of the tickets going on sale, there were warnings that the MoD may have 'jumped the gun'.

Kensington Palace sources made clear that they were 'not consulted' on the MoD announcement and said that any confirmed attendance by the princess would be made 'only' by themselves.

Buckingham Palace confirmed that planning for future engagements was continuing despite the King's ongoing cancer treatment yet stressed that changes could be made nearer the time depending on his health.

He is undertaking a very limited number of in-person engagements and certainly not anything with large crowds, on doctors' advice.

The confusion has added to the sense of unease around the Royal Family, given that two of its most senior members are largely out of action for substantial periods.

Insiders have said, given the profile of the occasions, that it is likely that both the monarch and his daughter-in-law would do everything within their power to attend.

On Friday, the Prince of Wales visited the Oval cricket ground as he continues to carry out engagements while his wife and his father recover.

But his absence from his godfather's memorial at Windsor Castle last month for a 'personal matter'  led to increased speculation about his wife's health.

The Palace has said that based on the current medical advice Kate was unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.

A spokesman stated that it was Kate's personal wish to keep her personal medical information private and said it would only provide an update if there were 'significant new information to share'.

William has been juggling royal duties with supporting Kate and helping care for George, Charlotte, and Louis.

Prince William laughs as he speaks to Surrey County Cricket Club players at the Oval on Friday

Prince William is presented with a Surrey County Cricket Club shirt at the Oval 

Prince William speaks to Pierre-Yves Paslierco, founder of Earthshot Prize winner Natpla, as he holds holds a sustainable seaweed-based food plate at the Oval cricket ground on Friday

Queen Camilla has led the royals at other events amid a slimmed-down monarchy - with Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie also helping out. 

Tomorrow, William will attend an event at immersive art venue Frameless in the Marble Arch area of London's West End, celebrating The Earthshot Prize 'Launchpad' project. 

This is a new online matchmaking platform for Earthshot projects which can be accessed by investors and philanthropists looking to co-invest and collaborate on environmental ideas.

Kensington Palace said that since 2021, the Earthshot Prize has awarded £15million of prize money and the network has helped unlock £50million of support via its network, for the 45 winners and finalists.

Also on Monday, Camilla and William are to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service, joined by remaining members of the slimmed-down monarchy.

With the King and Kate away from public-facing duties, the rest of the institution's working royals will gather in force at Westminster Abbey.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams was joined by royal fans in showing their delight at seeing the Mother's Day photo of Kate

Camilla and William will be accompanied by Edward, Sophie and Anne along with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.

A pre-recorded video message from Head of the Commonwealth, Charles, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, will be played during the service this year, Buckingham Palace said.

The annual celebration will draw on the theme of resilience - at a time when the royal family has faced a barrage of health troubles.

But the service will focus on stories of environmental resilience and marine sustainability, through performances representing the five regions of the Commonwealth.

William's appearance at the televised event - a key part of the royal calendar - alongside Camilla comes after he pulled out of attending his godfather King Constantine of Greece's memorial service last week at the last minute due to an undisclosed personal matter.